As a new year begins, storylines abound in Broward County
Christy Cabrera Chirinos on high school sports Sun Sentinel Columnist
For a majority of students across Broward County, Monday meant a return to school.
For high school athletes and coaches who have been conditioning and playing over the summer, Monday meant they were one day closer to getting their respective seasons under way.
This week, girls volleyball and football teams will take part in preseason showcases, with cross country, golf, swimming and diving not far behind.
In a few days, the games will start to count and the quest for state championships really begins.
Some teams are looking to defend titles, while others are hoping to get back on top.
There are new faces in new places and high hopes across the county.
In that spirit, here are a few of the storylines and teams to watch this year:
Football frenzy — Heated rivalries and top-notch college prospects make South Florida a hotbed for high school football. Adding to the excitement this year? The fact that Broward is home to Miramar, the defending Class 6A state champion. The Patriots are looking to get back to Orlando and St. Thomas Aquinas, which last season saw its reign as two-time defending Class 5A champion end, is hoping to get back, too.
Don't forget to keep an eye on programs such as Blanche Ely, Boyd Anderson, Cypress Bay, Deerfield Beach, Dillard and Plantation. They're some of Broward's traditional powers for good reason.
Volleying back — Last season was disappointing for many of the county's top volleyball programs. Only two teams — Chaminade-Madonna and Westminster Academy — advanced to state. Neither came home with a title. But with two-time defending Class 3A-2A-1A Player of the Year Leigh Andrew returning to Westminster, expect to see big things from the Lions.
Questions on the court — Pine Crest's Brandon Knight has graduated. So have Flanagan's Khyle Marshall, Sagemont's Fab Melo, Dillard's Dawnn Maye, South Broward's Krystal Saunders, Ely's Alicia DeVaughn and Nova's Jassany Williams.
In recent seasons, these athletes helped prove basketball was no longer an afterthought in Broward.
Will athletes such as Sagemont's Rod Days and Cooper City's Chanlir Segarra be able to step up and fill their shoes? And after just one Broward team — the Dillard girls — brought home a state title last season, can the county fare better this year?
Decade of dominance — The American Heritage girls soccer team has become one of the state's premier programs over the past 10 years. The Patriots have won six state titles since 2000 and are the two-time defending Class 3A state champions. With Haleigh Stremanos, Jannel Johnson and Amunique Scott among the Patriots' returning players, Heritage looks poised for yet another title run.
Springtime success?—Last spring, the St. Thomas Aquinas boys track team and the Archbishop McCarthy and Flanagan baseball teams put together championship seasons. But Broward County was shut out of the state softball tournament for the first time since the state transitioned to fast-pitch in 1994. Will that trend continue? Hopefully not.
Money matters—Economic issues have taken a toll on Broward County schools and high school sports have felt the pinch. During the past year, coaches have been laid off and budgets have been cut. Private schools have been affected too, as some parents find they can no longer afford tuition and athletes are transferring. As the year gets started, athletic programs across the country are looking for way to stretch their dollars. Unfortunately, this story won't be going away anytime soon.
Christy Cabrera Chirinos can be reached at ccabrera@SunSentinel.com. Follow her coverage of the season at her blog, SunSentinel.com/cabrera and on Twitter @BrowardHSsports.